The air in the dormitory that Remus shared with his three best friends was thick with tension and as obvious as a ten foot wall. He, James and Sirius had managed to get away from Lily with the use of Petrificus Totalus and leaving her at the table in the library they had headed back to the Gryffindor common room in complete silence.

At the moment, Sirius was lying on his bed, stretched out on his stomach examining the box of chocolates Esperanza had given Remus, while James was sitting in a chair by the window glaring out across the grounds of Hogwarts as it fell into darkness with the setting sun. Remus was sitting propped up against his headboard, a book of charms in his hands as he methodically sifted through the pages looking for something to end the disaster that had befallen him.

Looking up, Sirius glanced from one friend to the other. “So, are we never going to talk again then?”

Remus looked up over the top of his book. “I said sorry, Sirius. What more do you want me to do?”

“Nothing,” Sirius assured him, popping a chocolate back into the box. “It’s not your fault that Prongs is being a tosser about all of this.”

James’ head snapped up, pushing his glasses onto the bridge of his nose he scowled at Sirius. “I heard that.”

“I should hope so, I said it loud enough,” Sirius retorted.

“Look,” James began huffily, but Sirius cut him off.

“No, you look.” Sirius swung himself off the bed and glared at his friend. “Moony needs our help. This thing with Lily is not his fault. It’s not even her fault. You need to stop this nonsense and help us work out how to set things right. Things can’t go on like this.”

“I know it’s not Moony’s fault,” James said, getting to his feet as well. “And I don’t mean to….”

“Let your petty jealousy get in the way of finding a cure? Oh good,” Sirius clapped his palms together. “Lets get on with it then, shall we?”

James sighed heavily. “You’re right, Padfoot.”

“Was there ever any doubt?” Sirius said, his eyes wide.

“Momentarily,” James said, sliding a grin at Remus. “I’m sorry.”

Remus smiled softly. “It’s fine. I understand, James.” He let his head fall back against the headboard and he stared up at the ceiling for a moment. “Where do you think Peter is?”

“Who knows,” Sirius sat down on the end of the bed and picked up the box of chocolates again, shaking the box lightly so that they rattled back and forth. “I still say that the answer is right here.”

James took the box from Sirius and sniffed at the chocolates warily. “I happen to think that you’re right, Padfoot.”

“I think that today, we’ve already established that I’m right more often than you two would like to admit,” said Sirius, his eyebrow quirking comically.

The sudden knock on the door caused all three boys to turn their heads in the same direction, each eyeing the wooden door in the centre of the wall with distrust. The knock came again, louder and the handle jiggled. Remus had, as soon as they had returned to their room, cast a locking spell on the door to keep himself safe.

“Who is it?” Remus called, when it became apparent that neither of his friends were going to speak.

Remus closed his eyes for a moment and took a steadying breath. “We’re busy right now, Lily.”

“I must see you, my love,” Lily exclaimed. “Alohomora!”

The door flew open and Lily stood on the threshold, her long red hair spilling about her shoulders and her green eyes lighting up at the mere sight of Remus. She held a small plate in her one hand with a few plump pasties piled on it and a small bottle of pumpkin juice in the other. She made a beeline for Remus, a happy smile plastered on her face.

“For you, my hearts delight,” she informed Remus, setting her burden on the little bedside table and proceeding to climb onto the bed to kiss him.

James moved quickly, (Sirius would later swear blind that he had never seen his friend move so quickly before or since), and gripping Lily round the waist he rolled her straight off the bed, managing to position himself between her and Remus.

“Let’s get you out of here, Lily.”

“I don’t want to go anywhere without Remus. I must be with him,” Lily explained, her tone serious and a glassy eyed look of worship on her face.

“It’ll be easier for you if you go quietly. Don’t make me resort to harsh tactics,” James warned.

Small indents appeared in Lily’s forehead for a moment, before she whipped out her wand quick as a wink. “Aguamenti!”

James coughed and spluttered as a jet of water hit him full in the face. Sirius threw back his head, roaring with laughter. “I’ll say this for you, Prongs, you certainly have a way with women.”

“Shut up, Padfoot,” James said through grit teeth. “I’d like to see you do any better without stunning her.”

Sirius sighed dramatically. “If you want a job done right, do it yourself.”

“Padfoot!” Remus warned. He had scrambled to his feet on the opposite side of the bed to Lily and he was all ready to make a run for door if the situation warranted it.

“Lily,” Sirius said, smiling disarmingly. “It may have come to your attention that I am in my after school, casual clothes.” Lily gave him a look that clearly told him she thought he was mad. “I have noticed that you are still in your uniform.” He tucked an arm around Lily’s shoulders and gently turned her towards the door. “That’s no outfit to be wearing when trying to capture the heart of your one true love.”

Lily pouted and declared in a high sincere voice, “My love doesn’t care what I’m wearing. He just wants me to be near him.”

“So, go and change,” he whispered into her ear. “Then you can have a nice romantic picnic of pumpkin pasties together.”

Lily beamed at Sirius and clasped her hands together at her chest. “Wonderful idea.” She almost skipped to the door, pausing only long enough to blow Remus a kiss. “My feet will have wings to allow me to return swiftly to your side.”

“Great,” Remus responded, giving her a weak smile.

Sirius grinned widely, holding out his hands in an I-Told-You-So gesture. “And that, my dear, Prongs, is how you handle women.”

“Shut it,” James all but snarled.

Remus threw up his hands in defeat. “How is this helping me? She’s coming back.”

“Ah ha,” Sirius declared with a flick of his wrist. He scooped up the box of chocolates that James had replaced on the bed and threw a cloak about his shoulders. “Fair damsel may return on the wings of love if she wants to. We won’t be here.”

“Where are we going?” James asked, following Sirius as he crossed the room, leading them out into the corridor.

“We are on a mission to find Esperanza.”

“No. No. No, we aren’t,” Remus said worriedly, hurrying after his friends.

“Oh yes we are.” Sirius turned to face James and Remus, flourishing his cloak theatrically he said dramatically, “You must be strong in the face of adversity, Moony. We must be fearless knights and go forth to find Esperanza and return our world to the one we know. You must be brave and valiant, Moony and remember; faint heart never got rid of fair Lily. “ Sirius gave his cloak another flourish, spun on his heel and strode off down the corridor.

Remus sighed and rolled his eyes. “Do you get the feeling he’s really enjoying himself?”